Friday, September 26, 2014

Ban This Book!

“Captain Underpants has topped the most challenged books list
for two years now and [Dav] Pilkey is also baffled by his notoriety. He
suspects the book’s anti-authoritarian tone may be to blame.

“‘I
don’t consider the books to be anti-authoritarian,’ he says, ‘but I do
think it is important, if you think something is wrong, to question
authority — because, you know, there are villains in real life, and they
don’t always wear black capes and black hats. Sometimes they’re dressed
like authority figures. And kids need to know that it’s important to
question them.’”

TODAY'S WORD ON JOURNALISM
is a free “service” sent to the 1,800 or so misguided
subscribers around the planet. If you have recovered from whatever led
you to subscribe and don’t want it anymore, send “unsubscribe” to
ted.pease@gmail.com. Or if you want to afflict someone else, send me the
email address and watch the fun begin. (Disclaimer: I just quote
’em, I don’t necessarily endorse ’em. But all contain at least a
kernel of insight. Don’t shoot the messenger.) Ted Pease,Professor of Interesting Stuff, Trinidad, California. (Be)Friend The WORD

“Words are sacred. They deserve respect. If you get the right ones, in the right order, you can nudge the world a little.”—Tom Stoppard.